Four suspects have been arrested in Kisumu after police recovered a Jericho pistol believed to have been stolen from a police officer during the burial of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Bondo, Siaya County.
The arrests followed an intelligence-led operation conducted by detectives from Kasagam Police Station, who raided a hideout in the Mbeme area after receiving a tip-off from the public. Officers found the suspects in possession of the loaded firearm, which had been missing since the chaotic scenes witnessed during the burial ceremony.
The recovered pistol had been snatched from a police constable attached to Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa’s security detail. The officer, who serves in the VIP Protection Unit at the General Service Unit Headquarters in Ruaraka, reported being robbed of his firearm as he escorted the governor to his vehicle. The incident occurred at the main gate of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, where the burial was held.
According to police reports, the officer was in the company of four colleagues when a group of unruly youths surrounded them. As he attempted to board the governor’s vehicle, one of the youths allegedly grabbed the loaded pistol—containing 15 rounds of ammunition—from its holster before disappearing into the crowd.
Attempts to immediately recover the weapon proved futile due to the large and uncontrollable crowd at the venue. The situation later escalated as individuals posing as mourners reportedly engaged in theft, stealing personal belongings from attendees amid the confusion.
Security was quickly reinforced to restore order, with additional personnel deployed to manage the swelling crowd both at the burial venue and in nearby areas. Some individuals who were locked out of the main ceremony reportedly turned chaotic, looting in the surrounding town and attempting to force entry into Opoda Farm, where the burial was taking place. Their disruption briefly halted proceedings before order was restored.
Police have confirmed that the four suspects are currently in custody for interrogation and will be arraigned once investigations are complete. The recovery of the firearm is being hailed as a major breakthrough in the ongoing security operation following the high-profile burial event.
